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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 6, 2002OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION MAY 6, 2002 The meeting of the Traffic Commission was called to order at 7:08 p.m. by Chairperson Ed Carlson. I. ROLL CALL Members Present: Anderson, Carlson, Goodman, Sturdevant, Stumpf Staff Present: Kathyjean Young, Assistant City Engineer Bill Roddy, Police Captain II. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 3, 2001 MINUTES Motion by Sturevant, second by Goodman, to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2001 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. III. OLD BUSINESS TH A. REQUEST TO INSTALL YIELD SIGN ON POLK STREET AT 39 AVENUE Mr. Matt Henry is requesting the Traffic Commission review the decision to deny th the request for a yield sign stopping traffic on Polk Street at 39 Avenue. (The Commission considered this request in April 2000.) The intersection is uncontrolled. The concern is the speed of the traffic on Polk Street in the vicinity of the park. Residents including children must walk in the street to get to the park because sidewalks are not available. There was also a request to install a stop sign at this intersection in February 2000. Mr. Henry was present and restated the concern of children forced to walk in the th streets because of no sidewalk. Traffic counts for 39 Avenue and Polk Street were originally taken in February of 2000 and again in April of 2002. The majority of the traffic on Polk Street was traveling at the posted speed or less. Staff does not recommend installation of a yield sign for Polk Street. Installation of a yield sign stopping traffic on Polk Street will have two effects. The traffic on th 39 Avenue is already traveling fast and those speeds may increase if vehicles are no longer required to proceed with caution through the uncontrolled intersection and the yield sign may provide a false sense of security for pedestrians on Polk th Street. Staff will review the tree located on the south side of 39 Avenue west of Polk Street to determine if it falls within the visibility triangle. No sidewalk on Polk Street is a separate issue. Staff suggested walking young children along the area behind the curb and gutter as it is not private property. Official Proceedings Columbia Heights Traffic Commission May 6, 2002 Page 2 Mr. Henry requested a copy of the stop sign study by the Institute of Traffic Engineers. Staff will make a copy available to him. Motion by Carlson, second by Stumpf to deny the request to install yield signs on Polk Street. Motion carried unanimously. IV. OTHER OLD BUSINESS None. V. NEW BUSINESS THTH A. REQUEST TO MAKE 7 STREET ONE-WAY FROM 40 AVENUE TO ND 42 AVENUE th Mayor Peterson received a suggestion from a resident to make 7 Street a one- thnd way street from 40 Avenue to 42 Avenue. The purpose of the one-way designation is to keep the street passable with the heavy use of on-street parking surrounding the Islamic Center. Police Chief Johnson suggested if parking continues to be a problem for the neighborhood, the residents may want to consider restricting parking to one side of the street. Staff does not recommend pursuing a one-way designation. Captain Roddy recommended a Police representative meet with the organization and th express concerns with the parking and traffic congestion on 7 Street and work out some kind of agreement which benefits the neighborhood and the attendees of the Islamic Center. Motion by Carlson, second by Sturdevant to direct a Police representative to meet th with the Islamic organization to discuss traffic congestion on 7 Street and work out an agreement which benefits the neighborhood and the Islamic Center. Motion carried unanimously. ST B. REQUEST TO REVISE “PERMIT ONLY PARKING” ON 41 AVENUE Mary Lou Pribula, of 4141 Quincy Street, a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church, is requesting the “Permit Parking Only” be removed on the st north side of 41 Avenue from the alley west to Quincy Street. She feels the restriction is a hardship on the elderly members of the church. Official Proceedings Columbia Heights Traffic Commission May 6, 2002 Page 3 The permit parking was approved by the City Council in conjunction with the development adjacent to NEI. Any change would have to be approved by the City Council and re-negotiated with NEI. Motion by Sturdevant, second by Goodman, to remove permit signs on the north st side of 41 Avenue from the alley west to Quincy Street. Motion carried unanimously. VI. OTHER NEW BUSINESS A. None. VII. REPORTS A. CITY ENGINEER TH 1. REQUEST TO REMOVE HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 4950 5 STREET The Public Works Department received a request to remove the handicap th parking sign at 4950 5 Street as the sign is no longer required. 2. Commission members were given a Traffic Safety Fundamentals Handbook published or provided by Mn/DOT. B. POLICE CHIEF None. C. COMMISSIONERS None. VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Sturdevant, second by Anderson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, ___________________________ Joanne Baker Traffic Commission Secretary